Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



JOHN w. COCHRAN.

Improvement in Breech-Loading Fife-Arms. N0.126,446.

Fay/L OWI/(IlL/qlIf/[LIQIIIIIIJ Patented May 7, 7872.

NITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE JOHN w. OOOHRAN, or New YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 126,446, dated May 7,1872.

To all whom it nwy concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. COGHRAN, of

ever they occur.

To enable others skilled in the art to construct and use my invention, Iwill proceed to describe it.

My invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of aswinging brcechpiece with a brace pivoted to the frame in rear of thebreech-piece for the purpose of holding the same securely in positionwhile the gun is being fired. It also further consists in combining withthe breech-piece an ejector for starting or removing the cartridgeshellas the breech is opened.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section with the breech closed. Fig.2 is a similar view with a modification of the cartridgeejector. Fig. 3is a longitudinal vertical section with the breech partially opened torepresent the operation of withdrawing the shell. Fig. 4 is a top-planview of the breech block detached.

A represents the barrel, which is constructed in the usual style forthis class of arms, the rear end of the barrel being left entirely open.D represent the stock, made of any suitable style to adapt it to theworking parts of the arm. In rear of the barrel I locate a breechiolock,B, of the form represented in the d raw ing. This breech-block I hingeor pivot at its front lower portion on a bolt, 0, as represented inFigs. 1, 2, and 3; it being of suitable size to entirely cover and closethe breeclrend of the barrel when turned up in the position representedin Figs. 1 and 2. In the drawing I have represented the front face ofthis breechblock B as having in it a recess of sufficient size to fitover the rear end and flange of the cartridge f when the breech isclosed; but it is obvious that instead of having this recess in the faceof the breech-bl0ck it may be omitted and the rear of the chamber becounterbored to permit the flange of the cartridge to enter and resttherein, the result being the same in either case. For the purpose ofsecurely locking or bracing this breech-block B in place when closed, soas to withstand the pressure of the gases evolved in the discharge ofthe arm, I pivot a lever, G, in the under part of the stockiD in rear ofthe breech-block, as represented in Fig. 1; this lever 0 being pivotedon a bolt, a, and having its front end formed substantially as shown soas to form a strong brace, resting against the'rear side of thebreech-block, and thus brace it firmly in place, as clearly shown inFigs. 1 and 2. This lever extends back a suitable distance andterminates in a handle, h, by which it can be readily operated.

As will be seen by Fig. 4, the breech-block is so constructed that thatportion which rests against the front end of the lever 0 forms a centrallongitudinal projection much narrower than the front portion whichcovers the rear end of the barrel. This form is adopted simply to savemetal and weight, and because by thus forming it a less space isrequired for 1t to rest in when turned back.

The device for withdrawing the cartridgeshell consists of a smallspring-hook, n, fitted into a recess of proper size in the front side orface of the breech-block B, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3; this springnhaving its front end formed into a small hook to pass under and in frontof the flange of the cartridge-shell when the breech is closed, asrepresented in Fig. 1. To enable this hook n to slip under the flange ofthe cartridge, (in case the latter has been shoved entirely into thechamber while the breech-block remained thrown baclg) the upper frontpoint or portion of the hook should be slightly beveled, as representedin Fig. 3, and there should be a small recess made in the rear end ofthe barrel, at its lower side, for this projecting point of the hook toenter as the breech is closed; this recess being shown in Fig. 3 at a. I

WVith the breech-block B and the ejector n thus constructed andarranged, it will be seen that when acartridge, f, is shoved into thechamber and the breech then closed the hook on the end of the ejector nwill be forced nn der the flange and engage with the front face of saidflange, as represented in-Fig. 1, and that when the breech-block B isswung back the hook on the front end of the ejectorn will draw thecartridge-shell out of the bore as it swings back with the breech to apoint where, as it moves in the arc of a circle, of which the pivot e isthe center, it passes below the horizontal plane in which the flange ofthe shell moves,when it will be released from the shell, leaving thelatter sticking part way out of the rear end of the barrel, as clearlyrepresented in Fig. 3; or, if the breech-block be thrown suddenly back,the momentum imparted to the shell may be sufficient to throw itentirely out of the chamber. As, however, springs are consideredobjectionable, especially in military arms, subjected, necessarily, torough treatment, it is obvious that instead of the spring a the ejectormay consist of a solid spur or stud, 0, formed on the lower front sideof the breech-block B, as represented in Fig. 2; this stud 0 operatingin the same manner to withdraw the shell as the spring-ejector a would.If, however, this form be adopted, care must be taken not to shove thecartridge entirely into its place in the chamber before commencing toclose the breech-block; because, if it were, then it is obvious that thestud 0 would strike against the rear end of the cartridge when thebreech was closed, and thus prevent the breech-block from closingperfectly, and, at the same time, endanger the exploding of thecartridge, especially if rim primed cartridges were used. When this formof ejector is used the shell should be shoved partiallyin and thebreech-block B'then turned up, the stud 0 passing under the flange andthe block B at the same time shoving the cartridge into its place, withthe stud 0 in front of the flange, ready for withdrawing the shell whenthe breech. is opened.

It is obvious that either center or rim-primed cartridges may be used insuch a gun. If the arm be intended for using the latter only, then afiring-pin will be located in the breech-block B, in the positionrepresented by t of Fig. 4, so as-to strike the flange of the cartridge.If central-primed cartridges are to be used, then the firing-pin will belocated as represented by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as to strike atthe center of the rear end of the cartridge.

If desired, a link or rod, Z, may be used to connect the lever G with anarm or projection formed on the lower extremity of the breechblock, asrepresented in red in Fig. 1, for the purpose of opening and closing thebreech by the movements of the lever C. If this be done there must besufficient lost motion in the link Z to permit the front end of thelever Q to pass from behind the block B and thus unlock the latterbefore the link Zoperates on the breech-block to throw it open. Whetherthis link Z be used or not the upper rear face of the block B should beformed on the areof a circle, of which 6 is the center, or nearly so.and the front arm of the lever C be so curved or formed as to permit thebreech-block to.

swing down in front of it as the latter is thrown up.

By these means I construct an arm that is simple, efficient, anddurable, and which by the act of opening the breech, withdraws theshell, in whole or in part, without the use of any other devices orparts than those attached to and forming a part of the breechblock.

I am aware that a gun has heretofore been described having a swingingbreech -block similar to mine, and, therefore, I do not claim of thehammer when fired; and, therefore, I do not claim such; but

Having fully described my invention, what I do claim is 1.Thecombinatiominabreeclrloadinggnn,

of a breech-block pivoted so as to swing backward and downward in thearc of a circle around a fixed point, with a brace other than the noseof "the hammer pivoted to the frame in rear of said block, said bracebeing arranged to swing upward in unlocking the, breech, substantiallyas described.

2. The breech-block B, pivoted to the frame so as to swing backward anddownward without any longitudinalsliding movementin opening, incombination with the extractor n or o, the combination and mode ofoperation being substantially such as herein described.

3. I also claim the combination of the swinging breech-block and theextractor with the pivoted lever or brace, the said parts being arrangedin relation to each other, and the combination being substantially suchas herein described.

J. 'W. COCHRAN.

Witnesses:

J OIIN BISSELL, W. G. DODGE.

